FanBar
Free, open-source native macOS menu-bar app for monitoring temperatures and managing fan cooling when macOS automatic control is not enough.
FreeOpen Source15 impressions
FanBar is a free, open-source macOS menu-bar app that displays live temperatures and lets you manually control fan speed.
- for
- Mac users who need more precise cooling control beyond macOS defaults
- pricing
- free
- license
- open source
Key features
- Live temperature readout — Shows CPU, GPU, SSD and battery temperatures directly in the menu bar.
- Manual fan speed control — Allows setting fan RPM via presets or fixed targets after macOS approval.
- Multiple cooling modes — Offers Automatic, Silent, Balanced, Performance, Extreme presets and fixed RPM mode.
- Editable temperature curves — Each preset has an editable temperature-to-RPM curve you can customize.
- Desktop widget — On macOS 14+ you can pin a widget showing RPM, speed and mode.
- High-temperature alerts — Optional notifications trigger when CPU/GPU reaches 90 °C.
Use cases
- Quietly monitor CPU/GPU temps while coding
- Boost cooling during heavy rendering or gaming
- Temporarily increase fan speed to prevent thermal throttling
FanBar FAQ
Is FanBar free and do I need an account?+
Yes, it is free and open source under the MIT license, with no account, subscription or ads required.
What macOS versions and hardware are supported?+
macOS 11 Big Sur or later on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs that expose readable AppleSMC fan data; the desktop widget needs macOS 14+.
Does FanBar require root access?+
Only when you enable manual fan control; a signed privileged helper runs as root but only reads fan state and sets bounded targets.
What cooling modes are available?+
Six modes: Automatic, fixed target RPM, and Silent, Balanced, Performance, and Extreme presets, each with editable curves.
What happens if manual control fails or the app quits?+
Fan targets are clamped to hardware limits and macOS automatic control is restored automatically.
Can I get alerts for high temperatures?+
Yes, optional notifications fire when CPU or GPU reaches 90 °C, one alert per episode.
Summarized by DevHunt from fanbar.jarin.me · Sep 27, 2026. Details may change; check the official site.
